Glen Bell was a big fan of Mexican food and figured ground beef, chopped lettuce, shredded cheese and chili sauce would be a big hit with Americans.
The big problem was what to wrap it in. Mexican restaurants sold them in soft tortilla shells which took too long to cook. The answer lay in preformed fried shells.
The tacos sold for 19 cents each. In 1954, he and a partner opened Taco Tia, his first restaurant selling only tacos and Mexican-style food. Two years and three Taco Tias later, Mr. Bell sold his interest after his partner resisted efforts to expand.
He opened another restaurant in Pasadena and took on three partners in a chain called El Taco. After four of these places he decided he didn't he didn't want partners so sold out.
In 1962, with a $4,000 investment, he opened the first Taco Bell in Downey, California. Eight more joined his empire in the next two years. The first franchise opened in Torrance, Ca. in 1965.
he fought in World War II in the USMC in the Pacific.
Job well done, Mr. Bell. And, I always thought Taco Bell got its name from the bell that is featured. Now, I know.
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